Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1887-11-12
o James, what can take that from

o ,JameS, what can take that from
uS?"
"Yuu are right" he said solcmnly.
"and | needed the rcproof. We will
make this a kind of Sacramental day,
and wrestle with our griefS, as Jacob
did with the angel, until they bless us.
Why, there is a traveller ont in all this
rain! He looks as if he didn't know
which way to GO
Call him in, James, said his wife.
"l'm glad the Lord has sent some one
TO rat our Thanksgiving dinner with
us"
The traveller obcyed the call of the
old man. and dashed into the yard.
stranger, this is n heavy storm;
come in and stop until the rain holds
up Mr.. Forrest called out. put up
your horse in the stable there. We
have no servants, and can't venture
into the rain TO help YOU
In a few minutes the traveller stood
] at lut tnltSltpIu' Aldli, NtIl-pulll Ilitu,
| with Il heavy brown beard and mus
tache which nearly covered his face.
Come In, come in Mr. Forrest
said "Why, you are as wet as a rat
"Only my oyercoat," he answered,
in Il hoarse voice, "With your permits
sim, I'll stop II minute in the hall and
take it or
He was a long time getting of his
coat, and when he came in Mrs, For.
rest was placing m ample meal on the
table, The stranger walked to the
window and looked in.
You have a pretty place here he
said, AT least, it must be an attract.
i've place in good weather"
"Ycs,' answered the old man, with
a sigh, eve are fond of the old house
and its surroundings
ado YOU live alone herc?'
AS you see" he answered, shortly.
He thought the stranger too %inquisi-
tive. but dinner is ready, Take a
seat"
The traveller noticed that at one
place there was Il handsome china
plate, and in II glass near it, a bouquet
of white chrysanthemums and red ger.
aniums. Naturally surprising that it
was Il seat of honor approp lated to
guests, he moved towards it. Mrs.
Forrest ncryously waved him back.
Not there, sir.' she cried. please
take this seat"
Excuse me, madam" as he took
the indicated place. I'm afraid you
will be disappointed in the guest you
expect, the storm is SO severe. But he
ought to have tried to come, There
should be no vacant place at a Thanks.
giving dinner
at is always vacant. SIR Mr.. For
rest said. at is a notion of my wife's
TO keep it for our boy, who left us fif-
teen years ago. You see, she has
always kept his plate on the yearly
returns of these days, and puts u
bouquet of his fayoritc flowers neal it.
1t seems to do her good to think he
will come back some day
He will come back to it," she said,
quietly. ave always felt sure that
my boy would sit there face to face
with me some day"
The strangers face worked convul-
sivcly. He suddenly moved towards
the seat, and held out his arms to her.
"Mother! mothcr!n he cried, with
tears filling his eyes, don't you
know me? Father, mother, I've come
back to you!'
She fell in his arms with a glad cry.
But the father made one step forward
and fell unconscious on the floor. 1t
was so unexpected, so almost impos-
Siblc, that the shock overcame him.
But Joy seldom kills, and he was soon
restored to consciousness, and learned
with a feeling of rapture, such as for
many years he had not experienced,
that his son had come back Il reformed
man.
81 did not mean to run away when
left the house." David said. at was
only when | was paying the money tc
Mr., Rapp that realized the depth Of
: my degradation, and | felt as if | coult
never look either of you in the fac,
again. ] shipped as a sailor in Il YES
: sci bound to Brazil, and when i
reached there | left it. and found worl
up the country. | did not write for
, thought you'd rather think of me a
, dead. My business prospered, ant
, then, after | had accumulated som
| property, | began to long for home
; and for mother and for you. And St
| | have come back to see if YOU still
e care enough for me to take me back.
| 1t was a Thanksgiving supper the,
| had that night, for the |interruptc,
| dinner had been entirely forgotten
Do YOU think that three happier peopl
could have been found in the world o.
: that Thanksgiving Day?-Y YOUTHS Com
t panton.
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